Storage apparatus system and storage control method that outputs a busy state or ready state through a ready/busy pin

Abstract

A storage apparatus and a storing method are provided. The storage apparatus includes one or more storage devices, an interface expander and a master controller. The storage device includes a storage module, a storage control circuit and a ready/busy pin. The storage control circuit outputs an operational state signal according to an operational state of the storage module through the ready/busy pin. The master controller outputs an interface signal to indicate the interface expander to provide the operational state signal. The interface expander detects the ready/busy pin of the storage device to receive and transmit the operational state signal from the storage device to the master controller according to the interface signal. The master controller determines whether the storage device is in a busy state or a ready state according to the operational state signal, and accordingly outputs a control signal to control operations of the storage devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A storage apparatus, comprising:
 one or more storage devices each including a storage module, a storage control circuit and one or more ready/busy pins, wherein the storage control circuit is connected to the storage module and the ready/busy pins, the storage control circuit generates an operational state signal according to an operational state of the storage module, and outputs the operational state signal through the ready/busy pin; 
 an interface expander connected to the one or more ready/busy pins of the one or more storage devices, wherein the interface expander detects the one or more ready/busy pins of the one or more storage devices to receive the one or more operational state signals from the one or more storage devices, and the interface expander outputs the one or more operational state signals of the one or more storage devices indicated by an interface signal; and 
 a main controller connected to the interface expander and the one or more storage devices, wherein the main controller outputs the interface signal to the interface expander to instruct the interface expander to provide the one or more operational state signals of the one or more storage devices, the main controller determines whether the storage devices are in busy states or ready states according to the operational state signals, and accordingly to output a control signal to control an operation of each of the storage devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interface expander includes an I2C interface or an SPI interface, and a GPIO interface, the interface expander is connected to the main controller through the I2C interface and/or the SPI interface, and connected to the ready/busy pins of the storage devices through the GPIO interface;
 wherein the GPIO interface is configured to receive the operational state signals from the ready/busy pins, and the I2C interface or the SPI interface is configured to receive the interface signal from the main controller and transmit the operational state signals received by the GPIO interface to the main controller. 
 
     
     
       3. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device further includes a data output/input pin and a control pin, the storage device is connected to the main controller through the data output/input pin and the control pin, the main controller outputs new data through the data output/input pin and the control signal through the control pin to the storage control circuit to instruct the storage control circuit of the storage device being in the ready state to erase original data stored in the storage module and/or control the storage module to access the new data provided by the main controller;
 wherein when the storage device erases the original data or accesses the new data, the storage control circuit outputs the operational state signal indicating that the storage device is in the busy state. 
 
     
     
       4. The storage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device further includes a control pin, the storage device is connected to the main controller through the control pin, the main controller outputs the control signal to the storage control circuit through the control pin to instruct the storage control circuit of the storage device being in the ready state to output original data stored in the storage module to the main controller;
 wherein when the storage device outputs the original data to the main controller, the storage control circuit outputs the operational state signal indicating that the storage device is in the busy state. 
 
     
     
       5. A storing method, comprising:
 generating an operational state signal according to an operational state of a storage module of each of one or more storage devices by a storage control circuit of each of the storage devices; 
 outputting the operational state signal through a ready/busy pin of each of the storage devices; 
 outputting an interface signal to an interface expander from the main controller to instruct the interface expander to provide the operational state signals of the storage devices; 
 detecting the ready/busy pins of the storage devices to transmit the operational state signals from the storage devices according to an interface signal by an interface expander; and 
 determining whether each of the storage devices is in a busy state or a ready state to output a control signal for controlling an operation of each of the storage devices according to the corresponding operational state signal by the main controller. 
 
     
     
       6. The storing method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving the operational state signals through a GPIO interface from the ready/busy pins; and 
 transmitting the operational state signals received by the GPIO interface to the main controller through an I2C interface or an SPI interface. 
 
     
     
       7. The storing method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 outputting the control signal to the storage control circuit of the storage device through a control pin of the storage device from the main controller to instruct the storage control circuit of the storage device being in the ready state to erase original data stored in the storage module; and 
 when the storage control circuit erases the original data, outputting the operational state signal indicating that the storage device is in the busy state from the storage control circuit of the storage device. 
 
     
     
       8. The storing method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 outputting new data to the storage control circuit of the storage device through a data output/input pin of the storage device from the main controller, and a control signal to the storage control circuit of the storage device through a control pin of the storage device from the main controller to instruct the storage control circuit to control the storage module to access the new data provided by the main controller; and 
 when the storage module accesses the new data, outputting the operational state signal indicating that the storage device is in the busy state from the storage control circuit of the storage device. 
 
     
     
       9. The storing method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 outputting a control signal to the storage control circuit of the storage device through a control pin of the storage device from the main controller to instruct the storage control circuit to output original data stored in the storage module to the main controller; and 
 when the storage module outputs the original data to the main controller, outputting the operational state signal indicating that the storage device is in the busy state from the storage control circuit of the storage device.